From Victorian frock coats to Seventies platforms, Chanel suits to military uniforms, the contents of The Priestley's wardrobe department reflect more than a century of social history.

And now the historic costumes, which have appeared in productions at the Little Germany theatre over the decades, are being shown off on the catwalk.

The Priestley is staging The Way We Wore, a fashion show featuring a range of vintage clothes dating back to early productions from when the theatre was founded, with the help of JB Priestley, in 1929.

It is only the second time the theatre has held a fashion show. Wardrobe mistress Angela Curtis said that while the costumes won't be for sale, they will be available for people to hire for fancy dress parties or other themed events.

"The show is a must for anyone whose taste runs to the style of earlier fashions, whether it's mediaeval-style costumes or a retro pair of 1970s flares," said Angela. "All the costumes are available for hire. They would be great for events such as a mediaeval banquet or wedding, a stylish murder mystery weekend or 1940s events like the annual Haworth wartime weekend.

"Our last fashion show was a sell-out, people are fascinated by clothes from the past."

Unlike more high-brow fashion shows - where over-styled fashionistas sit around air-kissing and stroking tiny dogs while size 0 models strut the catwalk - The Priestley's event promises to be a more grounded affair.

The theatre recently appealed in the Telegraph & Argus for women in the size range of 16 to 22 to be models for the fashion show and Angela said there had been a good response.

"The beauty of our costumes is that they were made for normal-sized people, not armies of 6ft tall size 6 models," she said. "We have a couple of size 20 models. Most of these clothes were designed well before the skeletal look came in, and they are all the better for it."

Walking through the wardrobe department, brushing against the endless racks of costumes, is like being let loose in a huge dressing-up box. There's 100 years of the history and heritage of both The Priestley and Bradford hanging up in there.

Among the sewing machines and rolls of material are chests filled with shoes, hats, scarves and bags, including a pair of antique Japanese silk purses and a Cartier clutch bag. Hanging up are Victorian corsets and linen jackets, a hand-beaded Victorian widow's ensemble, Edwardian silk lace dresses and pre-war silk stockings. For lovers of vintage fashion, the 1920s beaded party dresses are to die for. Military uniforms include pre-war airforce and Highland Guards suits and Naval uniforms from the Whitestar line which owned the Titanic.

"It's a large, varied collection with some wonderful costumes," said Angela. "We've got Victorian wedding dresses, frock coats and shawls, flapper girl dresses from the 1920s and psychedelic early 1970s gear, as well as designer items from names like Chanel, Dior and Nina Ricci."

Many of the clothes are donated by the public. "We sometimes get things given by people who want to put a family member's old clothes to good use," said Angela. "We've had some beautiful wedding dresses donated.

"Sometimes we are given styles which have just gone out of fashion. Even if a dress cost a small fortune and you loved it to death, a couple of years down the line it's embarrassing to be seen wearing it. But 20 years later it could well be a classic.

"One of my helpers fell in love with a 50s cocktail dress, describing it as so Sex and the City!' "Clothes from different periods come in very handy for the plays that are put on here."

Angela said many of the clothes have stories behind them. "We have a 1930s fur-lined coat bearing a Berlin label which I suspect was off-loaded by someone who needed to leave Germany quickly before the war.

"And all the clothes have appeared on stage, from the 1920s onwards. I remember one lovely Edwardian dress which was worn by an actress in A Midsummer Night's Dream had to be stitched up again after each performance when she came off stage!"

In 2001 The Priestley faced the prospect of selling its historic costume collection to help safeguard its future. The board of directors decided to put the theatre's treasured stock up for auction.

In January 2003 The Priestley closed for business after its former board of directors proposed to go into liquidation. The theatre, a registered charity, had struggled for 14 months to find around £60,000 it owed to creditors and further funding to secure its long-term future.

Thankfully, the wardrobe auction never happened. Three months after the theatre's closure members voted against the board's closure proposal, leading to the resignation of the entire board. Thomas Sandford, a businessman and previous board member, put together a rescue plan, involving a £40,000 bank loan and a further £18,000 of private donations.

Mr Sandford was elected chairman of the new board and got down to the business of bringing JB Priestley's beloved little theatre back to life. The building was transformed with new paintwork and lighting and The Priestley is now a thriving community venue, staging straight drama, pantos, musicals and weekly jazz nights.

Saturday morning children's drama classes - a long-running tradition at the theatre - have expanded and performing arts groups regularly hire the theatre to stage shows there. Big names such as Bradford-born singer Kiki Dee and folk legends Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy have also played on The Priestley stage over the past couple of years.

l The Way We Wore takes place in The Priestley bar on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the theatre, on Chapel Street, Little Germany, between 10am and 6pm or on (01274) 820666.